Ginger Cleary,Rome, GA ww.rihadin.com The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse. ? James Madison Member GSDCA Member Sawnee Mtn Kennel Club GA Director Responsible Dog Owners of the Eastern States. -----Original Message----- http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-animals-dogs-1836723-program-law Friday, August 31, 2007 Pet mandatory neuter, microchip reviewed Huntington Beach would be the first city in Orange County to have such an ordinance. By ANNIE BURRIS THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER HUNTINGTON BEACH ? Huntington Beach is the first city in Orange County to consider a program that would make it mandatory for pet owners to spay, neuter and microchip their cats and dogs. Police Chief Kenneth Small will present a report to City Council on Tuesday about the costs and requirements associated with the program. "The idea is to produce less unwanted animals and therefore less euthanizing and therefore more cost savings to society," said Councilman Keith Bohr, who proposed the law. "I hope that by us doing it other Orange County cities will follow." If passed, Huntington Beach would also be the first city in the state to have such a program and possibly the first government agency in the state to incorporate both cats and dogs in a microchip mandate, Small said. Los Angeles, Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara counties have passed similar ordinances. In Santa Cruz County, the number of shelter animals has reportedly decreased 60 percent and the number of animals euthanized has decreased 75 percent eight years after it adopted its mandatory law. During the 2006-07 fiscal year, the Orange County Animal Care Service impounded about 10,000 stray dogs and about 13,000 stray cats. About 40 percent of the dogs and about 60 percent of the cats were euthanized. Opponents say the plan is a needless example of "nanny government" and that enforcement would be difficult if not impossible. "I just don't think it is the council's business or even the state's business to regulate pet ownership," said Councilman Don Hansen, who was the only member to vote against researching the program during a vote in April. A similar state bill was sidelined in July when a senate committee directed the bill's assembly sponsor to withdraw the proposal until January and work with opponents to address their complaints. The state bill was proposed by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, who said the bill would reduce the number and cost of animals euthanized. Animals exempt from the program are law-enforcement dogs, service dogs and animals that are bred for competition. Veterinarians can also make exemptions if they decide the sterilization surgery would be unsafe because of the animal's age or health condition. Pet owners whose animals are exempt would be required to pay an increased fee for animal licensing. Civil citations would be issued to owners who do not comply. However, Bohr said that no citations would be issued for the first year of the program, which would be more focused on education than enforcement. Once the law is enforced, owners would have a 30-day grace period to show proof of sterilization and microchipping and then would be fined $150. The penalty would be increased by $50 every 30 days up to a maximum of $500. On Tuesday, council will also discuss the following: ?The fire department will give a presentation during a study session on proposed station relocations and decreasing response times. ?There will be a public hearing for a zoning amendment on wireless communication facilities. ?A city law on public dressing will be voted on. ?There will be a public hearing about the city's budget for the 2007-08 fiscal year. City council will meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 2000 Main Street. Contact the writer: aburris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx or 714-445-6696 __._,_.___ No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.13.1/982 - Release Date: 8/31/2007 5:21 PM ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================